THE Leamington Society has given cautious backing to the latest plan to redevelop the Regent Hotel.

The 300-member group has elected a new chairman, Margaret Watkins, who said her group is not opposed to the idea of retailing and housing proposals for the site surrounding the hotel.

It likes an idea of a new street running from Regent Street to the Parade - but said there is no planning reason not to comply with the local plan which said the site should be used as a hotel.

Mrs Watkins said: ?We know the Regent needed money spent on it before it closed but we still think it is a viable option to open it again, even now.

?Historical hotels in others towns, such as Worcester, are flourishing and doing well. Our members want to see the Regent reopen as a hotel and I think the people of Leamington do as well.?

The sixth set of plans from Wilson Bowden, which owns the site, are with Warwick District Council, but there is still no committee date set where a decision will be made.

Mrs Watkins said no major retailer or cinema chain has come forward to join in with the development, and the reopening of the hotel must be a top priority again.

She said: ?We are not against retailing or even the housing, but we think there are too many homes planned.

The society said the flaws in the current plan are that it would see some demolishing of the building and the retailing scheme would see a mix of different operators on the ground floor of the hotel, no car parking and the ?destruction? of the interior of the building.